The Transfer Tavern

Aston Villa should land Gary Cahill this summer if promoted to the Premier League

According to a recent report from La Gazette des Transferts (via Sport Witness), Aston Villa are one side keen on signing Gary Cahill next summer. The 32-year-old currently plays his football at Premier League heavyweights Chelsea and has done so since 2012, although the defender hasn’t appeared for the club at all this season following the appointment of Maurizio Sarri as manager during the summer, thus plunging his future at Stamford Bridge into doubt.

And with his contract up next summer, Steve Bruce’s Villa are one side reportedly keeping tabs on the £13.5 million-rated defensive enforcer (as per Transfermarkt), and it’s a deal they simply have to strike if they do indeed win promotion to the Premier League this season.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, the Villans came agonisingly close to a return to the top-flight last term in losing 1-0 in the play-off final to Fulham at Wembley, yet in resolving their financial issues over the summer and thus making some shrewd additions, Bruce’s side will again hope to challenge at the right end of the division this time round.

And in sitting in seventh place after eight games of the current campaign, it does look as though the Midlands giants will again be in contention for a return to English football’s top tier, and were they to indeed seal promotion this season, they must seek to lure Cahill to Villa Park.

Clearly, it looks as though it would be difficult for Villa to convince Cahill of dropping down to the Championship, not to mention that his wages would likely be problematic for the Villans, but the opportunity to return to the club where it all started for the 32-year-old may well be of interest were they in the top-flight.

And such is the wealth of experience Cahill has at his disposal, alongside genuine ability in the centre back ranks, his arrival would be of huge benefit to Villa in the top tier.

The defender has appeared 347 times in the Premier League during his career and in that time has had huge success with Chelsea, winning the title on two occasions and indeed playing his part in their run to Champions League and Europa League success in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

And while he hasn’t appeared for the Blues this term, one mustn’t forget that the Englishman played a key role in helping Antonio Conte’s Chelsea team win the title little over 12 months ago – clearly, he still retains the ability to produce the goods in the top tier.

And that would be invaluable at Villa next season if they do indeed return to the Premier League, as not only would Cahill’s influence be felt on the pitch, given he remains a fine centre back, but it would be off it as well given the amount of success and experience he has under his belt.

Thus, if the Villans do indeed win promotion to the top-flight this term, they absolutely have to seal a deal for the 32-year-old next summer.